Wanna get away?  Me, too.  It’s summer, after all and – recession or no recession – we all need a little downtime.  So, last week I spent a few days online to find the best airfare bang for my buck.  I checked out the discount travel websites, the package deals, and even paid a visit to several airlines’ home pages before I finally booked my flight. 

All my hard work paid off, and I’m getting ready for a much-needed vacation!  I’m psyched!  And, I even learned a few things about buying plane tickets:

• Flexibility matters.  The price of a plane ticket can change a lot based on what days you’re willing to fly.  For example I saved BIG (and I mean, like $100) by booking my return flight on Monday instead of Sunday.  If you can swing it, play around with your travel dates – and use the extra cash for a little spending money on your trip.  According to most travel experts, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are good (meaning “cheap”) days to fly.
• Smaller isn’t always cheaper.  When I started shopping for flights, the first thing I did was check out the smaller, no-frills airlines – I figured they’d be my best bet.  As it turned out, I ended up saving a few hundred bucks flying with one of the big airlines instead.  Make sure you check ‘em all out instead of assuming that one will be cheaper.
• The early bird (or night owl) gets the best price.  Airline prices tend to go up for late morning/early afternoon flights.  If you’re willing to sacrifice a few hours of beauty sleep, you can save big bucks.  You can always catch some Z’s on the plane.
• Book your flight on a weekday.  I watched one flight for about a week – same airline, same flight number, same seats.  It’s pretty interesting – on a Thursday, the flight was around $179.  But on Sunday afternoon, the same flight was up to about $275.  And guess what happened on Monday?  The price went back down to $179.  I guess the logic here is that most people book travel on weekends.  But, if you wanna save, make your travel plans on a weekday instead of the weekend.
• Sign up for email alerts.  I’m not always a fan of handing over my email address.  I mean, who needs another spammy, annoying sales newsletter, right?  But, when it comes to plane tickets, many airlines will email you when fares go down or when they’re trying to sell last-minute flights.  It’s worth it.

An affordable vacation?  It’s not too good to be true.  I can’t wait to hop a plane and get away for a few days.  Got any other tips for cheap travel?  Where do you go to find the best airfare?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

Sometimes it hits me, usually on a Thursday afternoon or Friday morning:  the sudden urge to get away from the humdrum, to just go anywhere.  I know that, once I wrap up all the loose ends at work, I have a weekend full of chores to take care of.  When the weather’s warm and your friends and family are off on their fabulous vacations, it makes staying at home that much worse.

But now there’s a solution for those of us who can’t plan vacations in advance, those of us without a whole lot of vacation time to use, or even those of us who happen to be fabulously spontaneous: www.lastminutedeals.com

Last Minute Deals is a site dedicated to exactly that:  weekend getaways and full-blown vacations that are quickly approaching.  Find a deal on a resort package to Florida, or hotel and car deals at Niagara Falls.  Just type in wherever you’d like to go and search the many deals that Last Minute has for this weekend, next week, or the next month.

Want to have some fun, but stay right where you are?  Last Minute Deals also has discounted tickets for concerts, movies, museums, and theaters.  Check out their suggestions for a cheap(er) night on the town.

What do you think of www.lastminutedeals.com?  Let me know if this travel site was useful!

Happy Summer!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

Ever heard of a staycation?  It’s the newest way people are getting in their relaxing vacation time … at home.

The economy’s the pits and gas prices are on the rise, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip your vacation.  This year, pare down your big plans and learn how to take some time off of work without going anywhere … or spending major cash.

Check out CNN’s article on staycations for a few ideas on how to save some money and take an exciting adventure without leaving home.  The trick to a successful staycation is not wasting your time catching up on the laundry or cleaning out the closets (unless that’s your definition of fun).  Here are a few ideas to help get your staycation started – without boring you to death:

·         Try a new restaurant

·         Spend an afternoon at a local museum, or an evening at the theater or symphony

·         Check out local tourist attractions; look at some guidebooks, like www.fodors.com or www.lonelyplanet.com for suggestions

·         Go on a series of daytrips; a quick Google search should give you a couple of ideas for nearby points of interest

·         Preserve the illusion of a vacation by staying at a local hotel:  enjoy the swimming and free HBO

·         Try something new:  city folk may want to try camping for a night or two, while suburbanites may want to get into the city for a shopping excursion.  Whatever you decide, make sure to deviate from your regular routine.

Since you are at home, you may be tempted to check your work email or take a few conference calls, but DON’T DO IT.  Remember, a staycation should give you all the relaxation as a regular vacation, so leave your Blackberry at home.

And please, let me know if you have any ideas for a fabulous staycation, or tell me how you spent your own staycation!

Happy Summer!

Xo

Callie the Savings Queen

I wear sunscreen religiously (yes, even in the winter).  Summertime is when I start stocking up on sunscreen because I seem to go through it so often.  But one thing I can’t stand is going to work and smelling like sunscreen, which is where one of my new favorite products comes in.

Coppertone’s NutraShield SPF 70 won’t leave you greasy or smelling like sunscreen, and it has antioxidants to help protect and repair your skin from sun damage.  You can wear it at the beach or to a business lunch – no one will be able to tell the difference.  The best part?  Coppertone is offering a $5 coupon now through July 13, 2009 – that’s about half off the price at Walgreen’s.

Have another Coppertone product that you love?  Check out the website for more $1 coupons that you can print out.

Saving money – and your skin – has never been cheaper. 

Happy Summer!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

Want free samples of your favorite lip balm?  Coupons for your neighborhood sandwich shop?  Free samples from your favorite tea company? 

All you have to do is ask.  Well – sometimes.

It’s called the $39 Dollar Experiment, and according to Tom Locke – bargain hunter and self-proclaimed “regular guy” – it never hurts to ask companies for free samples or coupons for the products you use every day.   

Locke wrote to 100 companies and basically asked politely for free stuff (some of the letters are pretty funny) – he kept a list of which companies he contacted, what he asked for, and what – if anything – he got for his efforts. 

Is the $39 Experiment for everybody?  Well, if you’ve got some extra time on your hands and you don’t mind writing a few letters, you might score some free goodies and coupons.  But, don’t expect freebies every time – Tom’s list is full of companies who ignored or downright rejected his requests for free stuff.  But, either way, it’s a creative approach to saving money!

So, do you know of any other ways to get free stuff?  Share with me!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

How much money are you planning to spend on dad for Father’s Day?  Maybe Dad will have to be happy with a smile and a big hug – but now you’ve got an alternative to getting him nothing.

Take him to TCBY, where dads get a free cup or cone on Father’s Day.  That’s right:  it’s absolutely free!  That’s not only easy on your wallet, it’ll be easy on dad’s waistline as well.

Can’t make it on Father’s Day, but still have a hankering for something sweet?  Stop in for TCBY’s $.99 Waffle Cone Wednesdays.  Check their site for availability at a store near you – that’s a price that even the most frugal-minded of us can justify!

Happy June!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

You want to look fabulous, but in today’s economy, who has the extra cash to spend on new designer clothes?  Not me, that’s for sure. 

The bad news is that, for most of us, our sluggish economy means tightening up our clothing budget.  But, there’s good news:  According to an article in the New York Daily News, you don’t have to have a million bucks to, well, look like a million bucks.

Say hello to the swap party.

According to the article, swap parties are all the rage in NYC – with good reason.  After all, what’s more fun that getting together with your fellow fashion devotees, enjoying a few cocktails, AND scoring a new designer dress?  It’s pretty simple:  Everyone brings clothing that they’re willing to part with, and the trading begins.  Plus, it’s a budget-friendly way to have fun and meet people.

Wanna plan a swap party of your own?  Check out the full article for tips on planning a successful swap party.

And, of course, if you’ve got tips on looking great for less, let me know!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

Imagine a world where you can push a button and find the lowest price on a loaf of bread.  A world where you could use a digital shopping list, complete with scannable coupons, to save big bucks at the grocery store.  Or what if you could find the cheapest gas prices in your city – without wasting tons of gas driving around to find them?

Sounds too good to be true, right? 

Wrong.

If you’ve got a smartphone, check out Walletpop’s recent blog entry about all the fantastic, money-saving apps that’ll help you stretch your budget even more.  With apps like Shop Savvy and Grocery IQ, professional shopping advice is always within reach, no matter where you are.

Happy Shopping!

xo

Callie the Savings Queen

Dad’s day is just around the corner – it’s on June 21^st this year.  And, unless you want to spend June 20^th frantically searching for just the right gift, you should get a jump on your gift ideas.  I’ve found some websites that are full of great Father’s Day gift ideas no matter what your dad’s into.

On a budget?  No problem.  With all of these options, you’ll find a gift that’ll fit your price range.

Gifts for Traditional Dads.  Golf.  Fishing.  Sports.  If your dad is a real man’s man at heart, check out this list of popular Father’s Day gifts from AskMen.com.  And, with a range of gifts from football tickets to fishing tackle to a new wallet, you’re sure to find a gift that fits your budget. 

Gifts for Foodie Dads. If your dad spends more time watching the Food Network than ESPN, check out some of these Father’s Day-themed gourmet gift baskets from GourmetGiftBaskets.com.  Whether your dad is a microbrew junkie, a health nut, or a serious griller, you’ll find a mouth-watering gift basket that’ll make him smile.  Don’t have the extra cash to splurge on a big ‘ol goodie basket?  Stop at your local grocery store, load up on Dad’s favorite treats, and make your own.

Gifts for High-tech Dads.  If your dad is into gadgets, Best Buy is your one-stop shop for deals on home theater equipment, gaming gear, and all things electronic.  And, with weekly sales posted on their website, you can find great deals just in time for Dad’s day.

Gifts for Green Dads.  Is your dad more concerned about his carbon footprint that his golf handicap?  Consider a gift from the World Wildlife Fund’s species adoption donation (complete with a Father’s Day gift bag) and help protect endangered species in your dad’s name.

Gifts for Bookish Dads.  Visit Barnes and Noble’s website to see their list of great Father’s Day gifts.  They’ve put together some books, movies, and more that your dad’s sure to love.  Strapped for cash?  Give him a $20 gift card or do your shopping at Half.com or Half Price Books.

What are you getting dear old dad this year?  Drop me a line and share your favorite gift ideas!

xo 

Callie the Savings Queen

So, I don’t know about you, but this economy has forced me to take a long, hard look at my food budget.  I’ve managed to cut down on some of my favorite – but completely unnecessary – food purchases in favor of frugal alternatives:  I’ve started buying store-brand diet soda and I’ve given up my favorite drive-thru coffee (I got a killer coffee maker and a few handy travel mugs instead).  And, I’ve even – grudgingly – cut down on the near-weekly trips to my favorite Indian restaurant.  Sigh.

We’re all skimping a little to stretch our dollars a little further, and it’s not always fun.  But, if you’re one of the zillions of people out there cutting your food budget, there’s a positive side:  According to the folks at The Simple Dollar, that pared-down diet may help you slim down.  By sticking to meals at home, and cooking instead of forking over extra cash for prepared foods, you might end up shedding pounds instead of dollars – just in time for swimsuit season! 

So, here’s to a frugal – and fabulous – new you!

Happy Saving!

Callie the Savings Queen